Every few years, every major league baseball team gets a new batting practice cap design. ESPN’s Uni Watch has published a sneak peak at all of the new team caps, including the new Nationals cap, shown here.

The white cap with contrasting brim replaces the previous red cap which was distinguished only by its blue piping.

The Washington Nationals debuted new military camouflage uniforms for the racing presidents as the team opened its home stand at Nationals Park Friday night.

The Nationals have embraced the U.S. military as part of their DC community outreach programs, and expanded that effort during the team’s recent road trip, when the racing presidents appeared at the Pentagon and Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

On Friday night, the presidents’ military antics were highlighted during several “Nats HD” features, culminating in the fourth inning race, when the presidents entered the field wearing their new uniforms and riding aboard a U.S Army Humvee in honor of the Army’s 237th anniversary.

Teddy Roosevelt, riding in the back, got off first and jumped to a huge lead, bringing the sellout crowd of 41,406 to its feet.

But as Teddy pulled away in the home stretch, a large, costumed Luc the Lobster appeared from the stands and dragged down Teddy short of the finish line.

Assuming the mascot team’s shellfish obsession continues, then presidents race fans will have to be on the lookout for Luc to make a return later this season as the annual festival kicks off August 1 when the Phillies return to town.

The Washington Nationals observed 9/11 Remembrance Day Sunday throughout the team’s 8-2 win over the Houston Astros. Many of the usual between-inning routines at Nationals Park were replaced by commemorative honors, videos, and tributes. Even the racing presidents showed solidarity, running their 4th-inning course wearing their new patriotic uniforms in single file behind our first president George Washington, who carried an American Flag from wire to wire.

Students of presidents race history know better than to bet against Thomas Jefferson on Independence Day.

The scribe of our country’s declaration of Independence once again led the race from wire-to-wire, and as he did last year on July 4, carried an American flag the whole way.

Monday was designated a “Patriotic Day” by the Nationals, and while the associated new uniforms continued to provide good luck for the team, they’ve clearly had no impact on presidents race results.

Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt declined to provide even a challenge, and in his 400th winless presidents race, Teddy stayed at the very back of the pack from start to finish, wearing a very undersized stars and stripes hat.

The Washington Nationals donned their new patriotic uniforms for the first time Monday night in honor of Military Appreciation Day at Nationals Park, and the racing presidents joined the festivities with new matching uniforms of their own.

With Nationals starter Tom Gorzelanny and San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner locked in an intense, fast-paced pitchers duel, Monday’s race came less than an hour after first pitch.

The presidents raced single file wire to wire in the order of their presidencies, with George Washington leading the pack carrying an American flag. After the race, they tossed t-shirts into the crowd.

The new uniforms, which feature a stars and stripes Curly “W,” will be worn for the new “Patriotic Series” announced by the team for 2011.

In addition to Monday’s game, the series will include Memorial Day (May 30 against the Philadelphia Phillies), Independence Day (July 4 vs. the Chicago Cubs), Labor Day (Sept. 5 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers), and Heroes Day (Sept. 11 vs. the Houston Astros).

UPDATE: I’ve added this close-up of the new uniform in response to some of the comments complaining that you couldn’t see the new uniforms.

With the team now on the road, the presidents races will return with the homestand beginning May 13.

Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.
New uniform photo courtesy of the Washington Nationals.

It’s fair to say that the 39,055 Nationals faithful who packed the home park for opening day are accustomed to end-of-game suffering. Unfortunately, a near-freezing drizzle forced them to suffer non-stop from Thursday afternoon’s opening pitch.

The home team sported a new look for 2011, with six new position players, an improved defense, new home uniforms, and a variety of other changes to the stadium experience; yet these improvements were little consolation for failing to score against the Atlanta Braves pitching staff.

While the team’s refreshingly solid defensive performance may portend good times ahead, there were no such signals from Teddy Roosevelt.

The 2011 presidents race season kicked off with an unusual relay race in which Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson jumped over hurdles in the outfield before attempting to push Teddy and George, respectively, to the finish line aboard rolling carts.

As Tom pushed George over the finish line, Teddy failed to gain his balance and fell off the cart onto the warning track.

The shared victory knocked winless fan-favorite Teddy into 3rd place in the presidents race standings after just one race. It could be a long season ahead.

The Nationals promised changes to the in-stadium experience for 2011. Unfortunately, letting Teddy win does not appear to be one of them.

This fan captured his own video from the upper deck. It’s notable not for the camera work, but for the drunken despair expressed over Teddy’s fate.

When the team introduced its new uniforms back in November, they also promised a renewed marketing focus for the Nationals around the color red and the Curly W logo.

Today, further progress was revealed in the form of new uniforms for the Nat Pack, new Curly W signage around the parking garages, Curly W backgrounds on all of the featured HD scoreboard videos, and revised scoreboard graphics featuring bright whites and reds to match the uniforms.

To this observer, these changes are well done and help to solidify the Nats’ marketing identity.

As anticipated, the Washington Nationals revealed their new uniforms Wednesday night at a Nationals Park fashion show featuring members of the team.

The new Nationals Uniforms offered few surprises, with a new emphasis on the Curly W logo, and many other small changes including the elimination of the gold trim around the lettering and numbers.

Focus on the Curly W as the major identity of the team is a good move, but lost in most of the coverage is the elimination of the block “Nationals” that has adorned the team’s jersey’s since its inaugural season.